Fish handling and bait rigging island in power boats

ABSTRACT

A fish handling and bait rigging island is adapted to be mounted on a deck in the cockpit of a power boat. The island includes a base, sides extending upwardly from the base, and a top. The sides of the island are spaced away from sides of the cockpit sufficiently to permit access to sides of the island from the cockpit around the perimeter of the island. The top includes one or more of a bait cooler, a live well with aeration system for live bait or fish, a salt water sprayer, a fresh water sprayer, a container for fresh water, and a fillet station for cleaning and filleting fish, with the fillet station having a sink with a drain and a fish cleaning platform. The platform is inclined to provide improved fish access. The sides of the island can include a re-spooling center, a fold down seat, and tackle and other compartments.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/616,678 filed Dec. 27, 2006, which is based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/755,685, filed Dec. 30, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an island or station in a powered fishing boat that incorporates a number of features that facilitate fishing.

Power boats, such as the power boat shown in FIG. 1, are frequently used for fishing in fresh and salt water environments. A number of different types of equipment and supplies are necessary for sport fishing, and a number of different activities are required for the fisherman. For example, the fisherman must rig and change the rigging on his fishing equipment, and bait must be stored and retrieved for baiting a fishing line. Also, it is desirable to have a station where fish that are caught can be filleted or otherwise handled. Some boats have compartments or work surfaces that can be used for some of these functions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fishing island or station for the deck of a fishing boat, wherein supplies and work areas are conveniently provided for bait storage, rigging fishing lines and handling and filleting fish, all in a convenient and compact area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a fish handling and bait rigging island adapted to be mounted on a deck in a cockpit of a power boat. The island includes a base adapted to be mounted on the deck; sides extending upwardly from the base and spaced away from sides of the cockpit sufficiently to permit access to sides of the island from the cockpit around the perimeter of the island; and a top mounted on a top of the sides. The top incorporates one or more of a bait cooler, a live well with aeration system for live bait or fish, a salt water sprayer, and a fresh water sprayer, a container for fresh water, and a fillet station for cleaning and filleting fish, with the fillet station having a sink with a drain and a fish cleaning platform. Desirably, the fish cleaning platform is inclined so as to provide improved access to a fish positioned on the platform. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sides include one or more of a respooling center with a tool drawer and multiple fishing line spools, a fold down seat, and tackle compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical fishing boat of the type in which the present invention is employed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fish handling and bait rigging island of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fishing island of the present invention showing the isolated bait cooler with stainless tray to keep bait fresh.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fishing island showing the salt water and fresh water sprayers and the fish handling station wherein fish are filleted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A fish handling and bait rigging station or island 10 (hereinafter “fish island”) is shown mounted on the deck 12 of the typical sport fishing boat 14, which in this case is a powered boat powered by twin board engines. Other types of powered boats also can employ the present invention.

Fish island 10 comprises a base 16 mounted on deck 12 in a centered location, so that a fisherman 18 can access the island from all sides around its perimeter. The island as illustrated is rectangular and has front and back (forward and aft) sides 20 and 22 and left and right (port and starboard) sides 24 and 26. The island could have alternative shapes. The island has a top 28 that incorporates several features.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back side of the island incorporates a fold down aft facing seat 30 so that a fisherman may comfortably monitor his trolling spread. The seat provides an elbow rest when raised.

The top of the island incorporates a bait cooler with stainless steel tray 32 to keep bait fresh (see FIG. 3). A 45 gallon live well 36 with venture aeration system is used for live bait. A raw (salt) water sprayer 38 and fresh water sprayer 40 are incorporated in the top of the island. These may have extendable hoses for access to a fillet station 42 or to a sink 44. A container for fresh water may be mounted in the interior of the island. The fillet station 42 comprises an elongated, recessed sink having a bottom 46, side walls 48 and end walls 50. The bottom of the fillet station includes a macerated drain, which is a drain wherein a disposal is incorporated. A disposal may lead to a storage container or to a discharge location.

A feature of the fillet station is that the bottom of the fillet station or a platform therein is inclined at an angle so that the belly and peripheral parts of the fish are easily accessible, even though the fish is disposed in a recessed compartment. Desirably, the fillet station includes an inclined or inclinable support platform 52. By tilting the platform, the peripheral edges of the fish become more accessible to the person filleting the fish.

A reel re-spooling center 54 is mounted on the right side of the island behind doors 56. The re-spooling center includes a drawer 58 for supplies and a plurality of reels 60 of fishing line mounted on a traverse shaft 62. Another compartment enclosed by a separate door houses a multiple spool leader dispenser 64. A compartment 66 is provided for knives or tools or other similar implements. The corners of the top of the island include receptacles 68 for beverage containers.

The foregoing provides in a convenient island most of the necessary facilities for storing and rigging bait and handling fish.

Summarizing, the advantages of the present invention include:

-   bait cooler with stainless steel tray -   molded-in fiberglass sink with both freshwater and raw water     sprayers -   45-gallon aerated live baitwell -   bait/fish fillet station with macerated drain -   port side cabinet with 6 Plano tackle lockers and 3 large tackle     drawers -   starboard cabinet with racks for leader spools and fishing line     spools -   large storage drawer and cup holders -   aft-facing fold-down seat with backrest that also serves as a     learning post when the seat is in the up-position

The foregoing is merely an exemplary of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made in the arrangements and detail of construction of the embodiments disclosed herein within departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A fish handling and bait rigging island adapted to be mounted on a deck in a cockpit of a power boat comprising: a base adapted to be mounted on the deck; sides extending upwardly from the base and spaced away from sides of the cockpit sufficiently to permit access to sides of the island from the cockpit around the perimeter of the island; and a top mounted on a top of the sides, the top incorporating one or more of a bait cooler, a live well with aeration system for live bait or fish, a salt water sprayer, a fresh water sprayer, a container for fresh water, and a fillet station for cleaning and filleting fish, with the fillet station having a sink with a drain and a fish cleaning platform.
 2. A fish handling and bait rigging island wherein the fish cleaning platform is inclined at an angle such that the belly and peripheral parts of a fish positioned on the platform are easily accessible, even if the platform is at least partially recessed in the sink.
 3. A fish handling and bait rigging island as in claim 1 wherein the sides of the island include a re-spooling center having a tool drawer and one or more spools of fishing line rotatably mounted on a shaft.
 4. A fish handling and bait rigging island as in claim 3 wherein the sides of the island include a fold down seat.
 5. A fish handling and bait rigging island as in claim 4 wherein the sides include one or more tackle compartments. 